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Update to Jeannette Kawas National Park After the Fire

This past weekend, a group of persons set fire to the heart of Jeannette Kawas National Park. The raging fire burned over 400 hectares, equivalent to about 1000 acres, of pristine tropical forests. It took the effort of the Honduran Air Force, the Honduras Army, the Tela Firemen and most of the population of Tela to extinguish the fire. The success was made possible thanks to the support and direct actions by the United States Bravo Task Force based at the Soto Cano Air Force base near Comayagua, who pitched in with a total of 4 helicopters, and a large contingent of persons who worked day and night for over 5 days.

Although the result is tragic, and we hope the culprits are found, put before a trial and sentenced, the good news is that no human lives were lost. It will take years to quantify the damages caused to the eco system.

On the bright side, we can categorically state that the most visited natural attraction in Tela is completely unaffected and open to the public. I refer to the Punta Sal Peninsula, which is part of the Jeannette Kawas National Park. The damage to the park is deep inside, and there are no visible signs of it from the coast line, which you follow on the boat trip from the beaches in Tela to Punta Sal. In addition, for those looking to visit the Garifuna Village of Miami, access is normal and there is no damage to be seen neither from the access road nor from the Los Micos Lagoon, which is also one of the main tourist attractions for the Jeannette Kawas National Park.

From a visitor’s point of view, Tela, and the Punta Sal National Park continue to be a very attractive part of Destination Atlantida and can be enjoyed to the fullest.

I hope you find this update to Jeannette Kawas National Park useful and that can proceed to continue your plans of visiting Tela and Jeannette Kawas National Park. As a matter of fact, if you are interested in helping restore the damaged area of the park; one good way to do so is by visiting Tela and buying a tour to the park. When you do so with one of the official tour operators, you are paying an entrance fee that goes to the park administration, and the funds will be extremely handy in the wake of efforts to restore the damage and keep invaders out of the park.

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Honduras Travel, the New Honduras Travel  Blog!

La Villa de Soledad B&B is happy to be associated to the new Honduras Travel Blog. This new site, which is the result of over 23 years of traveling around Honduras and being part of the tourism private sector in the country is yet one more effort to change the image of Honduras abroad and educate the potential traveler so that they can feel more secure and at ease when planning a trip and visiting Honduras!

Honduras travel

This blog is meant to have a full, regularly updated section about the different destinations in the country, highlighting the different things to do, the unique National Parks to visit, as well as tips about where to stay, where to eat and how to be a better traveler within Honduras and Central America.

Honduras travel will also have regular travel posts, which will make up the blog, and share the experiences of someone who has traveled extensively throughout Central America. If you love Honduras, and feel that potential travelers are not getting a fair image of the country, pitch in, Honduras and the different tourism service entrepreneurs need all the help they can get!

Initially, Honduras Travel is offering information on the three most important and popular destinations in Honduras: Atlantida, with its hubs in the Cangrejal River, La Ceiba and Tela; The Bay Islands, including Guanaja, Roatan and Utila, and Copan, which includes Copan Ruinas and Santa Rosa de Copan. They will be expanding this initial limited information progressively, and are confident that they will soon become “The Travel Blog for Honduras”, with updated travel info on all of Honduras .

We are happy to share this breaking news with you, and invite you to visit the Honduras Travel web page and send Honduras Travel your comments and suggestions, as well as sharing the tips with your friends. They now have a facebook page as well as a twitter (@hondurastravel) account which you can follow.  Surely Honduras Travel will become an important tool to market Honduras!

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Top Reasons to Travel to Atlantida:

Atlantida, the destination in Central America that offers the best National Parks in Central America, and the friendliest people in the region d is also the Gateway to the Bay Islands, the most popular Caribbean destination in Central America is probably the most complete destination in the Central American Isthmus.Central America Tropical Destination

You see, it is hard to get so many things into one single destination. This alone is certainly one of the top reasons to travel to Atlantida.

But here is a short list of a few other reasons to travel to Atlantida:

It is easy to get to! You can fly from the major gateways in the USA nonstop to San Pedro Sula and or Roatan International airports. From there you are just a short distance from the main hubs in Atlantida: Tela and La Ceiba.

Many people in Atlantida speak your language: English. You see, Atlantida began a swift development over 100 years ago, with the arrival of two competing US based fruit companies: United Fruit Brands (Chiquita Banana) and Standard Fruit Company (Dole). These companies brought in many English speaking executives and workers, and the locals also were quick to learn this second language.  In addition, the proximity to the English speaking Bay Islands of Honduras has always encouraged locals to learning that second language!

There are a total of 8 protected areas within Atlantida. Of these, 7 are easily accessible to travelers. These areas are so diverse, that you will have a blast visiting the different habitats, and learning more about how they interact. They include rugged mountains completely covered with tropical rainforests, marine estuaries surrounded by mangrove forests, with both fresh and salt water canals, ideal for a diversity of land and marine life; and finally marine sanctuaries with some of the best preserved coral reefs in the Caribbean.  You can choose between visiting any one of these or better, yet: all of them!

Relocate to Central America

A magnificent white water river: the Cangrejal, which rushes rapidly from the high mountains of Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios National Parks on its way towards the Caribbean Sea. Here, in the Cangrejal River Valley, you will find a variety of different lodging options, such as the award winning La Villa de Soledad B&B. Come and see it for yourself!

Best hotel in La Ceiba

A port facility with regular ferry service to the Bay Islands of Utila and Roatan, both unique, and yet so very different between themselves! You choose which you prefer to visit, or better yet, visit them both!

Pico Bonito National Park: how to get there & What to expecto

Atlantida is a safe destination. Thousands of tourists visit it regularly, both to stay and explore Atlantida as well as on their way to the Bay Islands.

Traveling to and from Atlantida within the region is easy and affordable. With an international Airport in La Ceiba, the port facilities that give you access to the Bay Islands, and good paved highways that provide easy access to the region, there are also several different bus companies and tour operators that offer services between the area, including regular connections towards Antigua Guatemala, and Leon Nicaragua.

I believe the above are all good reasons to travel to Atlantida! You will find that you will Atlantida offers a great variety of activities and lodging options to choose from. It will certainly become a highlight of your trip to Central America.

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There are many interesting facts about La Ceiba:

The North Coast of Honduras was never really conquered or controlled by the Spanish Conquistadors. The lack of a dense local population, as well as the hot and humid climate, kept the conquerors at bay. It was actually easier to run into a British buccaneer ship along the coast than it was to find a Spanish galleon sailing the waters off the Caribbean coast of Honduras. The Brits actually established a protectorate in the eastern part of Honduras and northern part of Nicaragua, which was called the Moskito Coast; the name comes from the ethnic group: the Miskito Indians, with whom they formed a loose alliance to fight off any attempts by the Spaniards to establish themselves in the area. The only Spanish outpost along the eastern Caribbean coast of Honduras during colonial times was the city of Trujillo, and this was attacked, ransacked and burnt by the buccaneers on multiple occasions, despite the fortress of Santa Barbara that sits on top of a hill to defend the city.

As such, La Ceiba was not established as a village until around 1872. By 1877, President Marco Aurelio Soto declared it a municipality, and in 1902 it became the capital of the department of Atlantida. One interesting fact about La Ceiba is its name, which coincides with that of the huge Mayan mythological tree: the Ceiba. It happens to be that the first people to establish themselves in the city did so on the beach under a huge Ceiba tree that generously provided its shade to these early settlers.

One of the most interesting facts of history about La Ceiba is that the city became one of the most progressive cities in Honduras thanks to the government land concessions given to the Vacaro Brothers Company, which eventually became the Standard Fruit Company, owner of the Dole trademark.  During the time the city grew, and it was easier for the locals to travel to New Orleans on the different steamships that regularly traveled the route to take the banana and fruit production to the north than it was to travel to Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. Some of today’s most important enterprises and companies in Honduras where actually born in La Ceiba under the umbrella of the Standard Fruit Company. Great examples about the above are the Cerveceria Hondureña, (the Honduran Brewery) which was born in La Ceiba in 1916. Another great example was the Banco Atlantida, the first private bank in Honduras, which was established in 1915. The original headquarters of this bank still operates to this day in a lovely art deco style building that sits proudly on the corner of Avenida San Isidro and First Street, just a block away from the old dock where all the commerce took place.

About La Ceiba

Today, La Ceiba is no longer a big port city exporting bananas and other tropical fruits. The main ports on the Caribbean coast of Honduras are Puerto Cortes, to the west and Puerto Castilla to the east. The city has slowly begun a transition from a port and agricultural power house to an important tourist hub. As part of Atlantida, a destination that includes both La Ceiba and Tela, the city is in the process of reinventing itself. One of the most significant examples about La Ceiba managing this transition can be seen in the totally renovated “Muelle y Malecon Turistico Reynaldo Canales” or in English Reynaldo Canales boardwalk and dock, which is meant to transform an old abandoned part of the City of La Ceiba into a park and recreational area for the enjoyment of locals and tourists alike.

Perhaps the most outstanding feature about La Ceiba as a tourist destination is the diversity of protected areas and national parks around its environs. If you add the endless options for adventure activities, which include white water rafting, zip line canopy tours, waterfall descents by way of rappelling…. And many others, you have an outstanding eco tourism and adventure destination!

La Ceiba offers many advantages to the traveler, but perhaps the most important of all is safety. The local communities look after the tourists that visit the National Parks and participate in the different activities available. Another nice thing to know about La Ceiba is the fact that it has the highest percentage of bilingual population in Central America! This means that you can always find someone to help you in your language if you need any assistance!

Now that you know all about La Ceiba, you are surely ready to plan your vacation. I fully recommend checking out the visit Atlantida web page for information. Another great source of information is the visit La Ceiba web page. Last, but not least, feel free to read through our blog, you will find useful and important information there. If you don’t, feel free to email me at info@lavilladesoledad.com and I will be more than happy to help you out with your questions and suggesting activities depending on your interests.

Best Hotel in La Ceiba

One of the best ways to get to know all about La Ceiba is by staying with the locals. we invite you to consider staying at the award wining La Villa de Soledad B&B. We will be happy to sit down with you and share our knowledge about La Ceiba and surroundings!

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Planning to visit Atlantida on your next vacations?

The brand new visit Atlantida app for IOS and Android operating systems is now available for free at the Google play store and the Apple store. This visit Atlantida app is designed to give you all the tools you need to plan your next vacation to Atlantida. To download this app to your android smart phone, follow this link:  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hr.apps.n206984407

But why visit Atlantida? Well, for one it is the most complete destination in Honduras, and possibly all of Central America! Atlantida offers outstanding alternatives for traditional beach and sun vacations, with two distinct hubs to choose from: Tela and La Ceiba. It is also an extremely complete eco tourism and nature destination, with a total of 8 national parks or protected areas to choose from, with 7 of these offering a variety of tourism services, each unique and particular that will fit into your interests: from hiking in the rain forests to kayaking through mangrove canals, diving in pristine coral barrier reefs or riding in a century old railroad track on a funky banana train, the variety is almost endless! If you are interested in adventure, then maneuvering through the white waters of the Cangrejal River, mountain biking in a remote location or horseback riding through the jungles of Nombre de Dios and Pico Bonito National Parks.

visit atlantida

The visit Atlantida mobile phone app also offers a complete list of hotels and lodges in Atlantida where you can stay, as well as restaurants and eateries and tour operators that you can use to arrange your package if you choose to do so through a professional tour operator.

A list of places to see and activities to do complete this new app that also allows a lot of interaction, such as setting you profile, checking into hotels and even writing reviews and comments regarding the establishment you visited or the attraction you visited and activities you enjoyed.

For a more complete resource, the visit Atlantida web site also offers a complete source of information, both in English and Spanish.

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One of my favorite trails in Pico Bonito is called the El Mapache Trail. Its name, which means the raccoon trail, has more to do with a person that with a raccoon. You see, one of founding fathers of this park, Gerardo Rodriguez, passed away tragically in a car accident during a work trip to Olanchito, on the backside of Pico Bonito. Gerardo was nicknamed “El Mapache” and in his honor, it was quickly agreed that the trail should be named after him, and that it was more than appropriate that it be named after his nickname.

Relocate to Central America

The El Mapache trail is located in the Cangrejal River area, and access is easy through the Pico Bonito National Park Visitors’s Center, located at km 8.8 of the La Ceiba to Yaruca dirt road. Once having registered and paid your entrance fee to the park, it is time to cross high over the Cangrejal River in a magnificent 400 foot long suspension bridge, much like those that you see in the Indiana Jones movies. The trail leads through a moderate to steep trail towards the magnificent “El Bejuco” waterfall, which falls over 200 feet down a cliff on its hurried way towards the Cangrejal River.  The El Mapache Trail is open daily from 8:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. You certainly do not want to be in the trail after that time, because in Honduras, it gets dark quite early, and in the winter months, it will be pitch black before 6:00 p.m. You can, on the other hand, pre arrange to visit the El Mapache Trail earlier in the morning. This is easy if you are staying at one of the hotels in Cangrejal River Valley area, such as La Villa de Soledad B&B, which has won several awards from tripadvisor due to the outstanding reviews from their guests.

The Cangrejal River area is one of the highlighted areas for the new Atlantida tourist destination. For more information on the area, you can visit: http://visitatlantida.com/en/destination/atlantida/the-cangrejal-river-valley/ We invite you to come and stay at La Villa de Soledad B&B and experience that different activities available for your enjoyment!

El Mapache Trail

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Atlantida Turistica Quality Seal awarded to Restaurants in Atlantida!

Visit Atlantida, the Destination Management Organization that is in charge of the development, marketing and growth of Destination Atlantida, has been steadily working for the past couple of years to upgrade the quality of the different establishments providing tourism services to travelers visiting our destination, which consists of the cities of Tela, La Ceiba and the Cangrejal River Valley.

Efforts have been concentrated in three different categories: restaurants, lodging and tour operators. The most advanced of these groups are the restaurants and it was precisely last Thursday, August 7th when Visit Atlantida held an event in Tela to honor the first 30 eateries that have been awarded the Atlantida Turistica Quality seal.

The event took place in the century old accounting building of the Tela Railroad Company, the most historic building in Tela, which dates back to 1917. There a total of 30 businesses, including some of the most iconic resorts in Atlantida received their awards. It was a true pleasure to see the large resorts, such as Induras Beach and Golf Resort, Telamar Resort, La Ensenada, The Lodge at Pico Bonito, The Hotel Quinta Real and Palma Real Resort, all leading resorts in Atlantida, participate in the event. Even more so where a series of small family owned restaurants that have put their hearts and souls into achieving the leap towards quality receive this award.

Atlantida Turistica Quality Seal
Authorities of Visit Atlantida present the Atlantida Quality Seal

Within the Cangrejal River area, the Restaurante La Jungla at Omega Tours Jungle Lodge received this award. Our congratulations to Udo and Silvia from Omega Tours!

The lodging awards will soon follow, and we at La Villa de Soledad are striving to insure that we qualify for this important seal of quality. Keep your eyes open, we will be letting you know when the Atlantida Turistica Quality seal is awarded to lodges and tour operators within Atlantida that provide quality service!

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Eco Hotel in La CeibaAre you looking for an Eco Hotel in La Ceiba?

La Ceiba has been named the eco tourism capital of Honduras. Many actually consider it the Eco tourism capital of Central America! So if you are planning a trip to La Ceiba, to enjoy the abundant nature and eco tourism options within this great destination, it is only logical that you will be looking for an eco hotel in La Ceiba.

There are several different alternatives if you are searching for an eco hotel in La Ceiba. Most of the eco hotel in La Ceiba lodges are located within two of the national parks in Honduras, Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios National Parks. Together, these two parks offer a unique setting where the tropical rain forest covered mountains offer a great view of the Caribbean to the North or towards the inner valleys to the south. Perhaps the most beautiful area within Atlantida, and the most ideal spot to find an eco hotel in La Ceiba is the Cangrejal River Valley. This valley, located right between Pico Bonito National Park and Nombre de Dios National Park is only 6 miles from La Ceiba! Here the pristine rainforests of both national parks, together with the spectacular scenery created by the natural landscaping of the Cangrejal River provide the perfect setting for an eco hotel in La Ceiba!

La Villa de Soledad is one of the best options for an eco hotel in La Ceiba. Recently awarded the tripadvisor Travelers Choice Award for the second year in a row.  Outstanding service and a great location no doubt have a lot to do with it!

La Ceiba Eco Hotel

With an architectural design reminiscent of an old Spanish Hacienda, La Villa de Soledad offers 5 cozy rooms with direct access to our grounds, spacious verandah’s and astonishing views. Eco activities include direct access to trails into, Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios National Parks, as well as adventure activities such as white water rafting, waterfall rappelling and zip line canopy tours. Bird watching is spectacular, with many different species seen from the comfort of your lounge chair or hammock! There is no doubt that La Villa de Soledad B&B is the perfect eco hotel in La Ceiba. Come and experience it for yourself, and relax in nature with us!

Central America Vacations

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Are you planning your Central America Vacations?

Here are some good tips to plan the best possible Central America Vacations: First of all, decide what countries you want to visit. Keep in mind that although geographically Central America is made up by 7 countries: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Belize and Panama, there are two which are very different and have never really been part of Central America from a political point of view. Belize was a British Colony, and never shared any history with the rest of Central America. Although it has the advantage of English being the official language, it is a World apart from the traditional charm of Central America. Panama, was actually part of Colombia until its independence, so politically it was light years away from the rest of Central America, which was part of the viceroyalty of New Spain, whose headquarters were in Mexico City. 100 years of Panama under the tight influence of the USA because of the Panama Canal has made it a different country from the real Central America.

Considering the above, there are really only 5 Central American countries: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Your Central America vacations can be very different, depending on where you decide to go. Costa Rica for one is the by far the most popular destination in Central America. This also means that you will find yourself in a tourist trap with thousands of over tourists trying to visit the exact same places and attractions as you are. If you like crowded vacation destinations, tourist traps and long lines, then Costa Rica is your destination! However if you are looking for some authentic Central America vacations, I urge you to look beyond Costa Rica: Guatemala has the advantage of its Maya heritage, and if you go beyond the bustle of its busy capital city, you will surely find many charming colonial towns and villages full with that special Maya heritage. El Salvador is relatively small and quite developed, and although it is the best connected country if you are looking for airlift, it is also the one with least natural attractions to offer.

That leaves only two countries: Nicaragua and Honduras. Both are great destinations, with a lot to offer both historically and naturally. Nicaragua is a land of lakes and volcanoes, with lovely colonial cities and friendly people. It is mostly developed along the Pacific coast and has become a very popular destination for surfing. If surfing, volcanoes and colonial cities are your cup of tea, then Nicaragua is probably your best option for some memorable Central America vacations that are tailored to your preference. For complete information on Nicaragua, visit Nicatips.

Central America Vacations

Last, but not least is Honduras. In my opinion, the country offers the best authentic Central America vacations! From the magnificent Mayan Ruins at Copan, to the world famous Bay Islands of Honduras, the country offers magnificent national parks, the best beaches in Central America and friendly people. Sadly, Honduras has been tagged as the murder capital of the World, an unfair tag that does not reflect the reality for most of the country and its friendly, charming people. Honduras is actually one of the safest tourist destinations in Central America for tourists. The average Honduran is friendly, helpful and will go out of his way to help tourists who might need help. Honduras also has 4 international airports that allow easy access to the different regions of the country. Perhaps the most outstanding destination in the country is Atlantida, with is a small department (equivalent to a state or province) that is located on the Caribbean Coast of Honduras. Atlantida has a total of 8 protected areas within or adjacent to its territory, offering some of the best tropical rain forests in all of Central America. Wildlife refuges with mangrove canals and lagoons, as well as some of the most pristine reefs in the Caribbean can be found within Atlantida. Best of all, is the Garifuna culture, designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO can be easily found within the area. If you are looking for some outstanding Central America vacations, look no further, visit Atlantida in Honduras, here you will not be overrun by tourists, and you will fine authentic eco lodges and fantastic beaches, as well as some of the best reefs in the world just a short distance away in the Bay Islands. For complete information on Atlantida and Honduras visit Honduras.travel and Honduras.com.

Central America Vacations

Atlantida offers unique lodging, such as La Villa de Soledad Bed and Breakfast. Come and experience it for yourself! You will have the best Central America vacations ever!Best Central America vacations.

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Are you planning a trip to Atlantida and wondering which are the things to do in Pico Bonito National Park?

Pico Bonito is one of the main icons of Atlantida, where the Caribbean meets the Central America. There are many things to do in Pico Bonito National Park, and all of them are easily accessible from both main tourist hubs in Atlantida, Tela and La Ceiba.

Although there are several official entrances to Pico Bonito National Park, there is no doubt that the area with most options and things to do in Pico Bonito National Park is the Cangrejal River Valley, the crown jewel of Atlantida and one of the most unique areas in Central America.

The Cangrejal River Valley, which is the eastern border of Pico Bonito National  Park offers easy access from La Ceiba, since it is only 10 km. or 6 miles from downtown La Ceiba.  The Pico Bonito visitor’s center located at km 8.5 of the La Ceiba to Yaruca road has a magnificent, Indiana Jones style hanging bridge that spans over 400 feet high above the Cangrejal River, providing access to a network of trails into the park.  The most popular trail here is El Mapache trail, that leads to El Bejuco Waterfall, a stunning 300 foot waterfall that plunges down towards the Cangrejal River. The trail takes between 3 and 5 hours round trip, depending on how fast you are hiking. Access to the park is only $8.00 US dollars per person, and nature guides can be hired for about $25. US, although you can also purchase a tour through one of the local tour operators in the Cangrejal River Valley. http://cangrejalriver.com/honduras/activities

El Bejuco Waterfall. The perfect week in La Ceiba

One of the most popular things to in Pico Bonito National Park is white water rafting. The Cangrejal River offers some of the best white water rafting in Central America, and there are three different outfitters that proved services. All of them have certified guides and the experience of rafting down the Cangrejal River, with the lush Pico Bonito National Park on the left and the equally lush Nombre de Dios National Park on the right side of the river! If you are a white water kayaker, you can arrange for a kayaking tour down the Cangrejal River. Although the regular commercial run begins at the Village of El Naranjo, and provides a category II & III white water experience, the section between the Village of El Pital and Las Mangas provides a more technical category III and IV run and can be arranged if you have proven yourself in the first run!

Things to do in Pico Bonito National Park

Another one of the popular things to do in Pico Bonito National Park is the zip line canopy tour. The tour is available through Jungle River Tours and is located at Km. 8 of the La Ceiba to Yaruca road. This activity zips you across the Cangrejal River to a trail, where you will briefly hike up the hillside to the starting point of the tour. Here a total of 9 cables will bring you flying over the treetops back to your starting point, once again crossing over the Cangrejal River. The tour takes about 1 ½ hours and is a lot of fun.

With so many things to do in Pico Bonito National Park within the Cangrejal River area, you are probably wondering if you should try to find a spot where to spend the night within the area. The answer is of course you should!

Pico Bonito Hotels

There are several different options, but without doubt, the nicest of all is La Villa de Soledad B&B, an award winning boutique bed and breakfast that is located within walking distance of all of the above activities. Featuring 4 lovely rooms, each with a private bath and hot water, as well as direct access to the lovely outdoors, La Villa de Soledad offers the comfort of a home stay with the best of Honduran Hospitality, as well as great home cooking. The fully bilingual staff offers assistance that includes arranging tour activities, providing transfers and even giving you tips about other destinations within Honduras and Central America. Hosts John and Soledad will help arrange all the top things to do in Pico Bonito National Park!

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